Dual drive for invalid equipment



Sept. 23, 1947. J. G. HAUSMAN DUAL DRIVE FOR INVALID EQUIPMENT Filed June -l, 1944 I VENTOR, e/osep/r 6%005221012,

Patented Sept. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims. 1

This invention relates to a dual drive for invalid or convalescent equipment, and is applicable particularly to various forms of wheeled chairs or combination bed-chairs, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a wheeled carriage of the character referred to, with means whereby an incapacitated patient may propel the carriage although he may be too weak to walk, or may have lost the use of arms or legs.

Another object is to provide an improved propulsion means for a carriage of the type stated, designed to aid a patient in learning to walk, without subjecting his limbs to excessive strain. The device serves also as an exerciser, and may be used by the patient without requiring the services of a nurse or attendant.

Various other objects and advantages are attained by the means disclosed herein, as will be explained. A representative structure is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a wheeled carriage, in this case a convertible bed-chair, embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the foot propulsion means.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken vertically through the shaft of the hand wheel 5 of Fig. 1.

The primary purpose of this equipment is to make it possible for the patient to help himself to the greatest possible extent, while at the same time contributing to the recovery of his health or faculties. A patient who has long been bedfast, or afflicted with leg injuries, will ordinarily find it necessary to learn to walk, and in many cases his lower limbs will require exercise to be undertaken gradually, and without undue strain. The carriage of the present invention furnishes a highly satisfactory means of exercising the limbs for recovery of the walking function, without forcing the weakened limb to support the full weight of the patients body at any time, and any fatigue resulting from the walking exercise can immediately be relieved without causing the patient to collapse or fall. Moreover, the leg exercising motions are utilized as a means of propulsion for the carriage, and the patient thereby is enabled to travel from place to place although his limbs may be so weak or useless as to preclude supporting his body weight.

The carriage of the invention possesses the added advantage of providing for propulsion by 2 foot power, augmented if necessary by hand power, to overcome weakness in the feet or legs whether temporary or permanent. The foot propulsion means herein disclosed is so arranged as V to be operated either by means of both feet, or by only one foot, depending upon the condition of the patient. Provision is made also for steerin the carriage, either by the use of one or both feet, or by hand, as the limitations of the patients faculties may require. The arrangement is such that the carriage may be not only propelled, but steered also, as long as the patient possesses the use of at least one foot. A patient without the use of his feet or legs, may propel and steer the carriage by hand. Thus, the device of the invention accommodates practically any type of ailliction involving the loss or impairment of limbs, and enables the patient to travel about without the services of an attendant.

By means of a readily accessible brake arrangement of simple and effective design, the carriage may be rendered immovable at the will of the patient.

The carriage herein disclosed by way of example, is one which may be collapsed for shipment or storage, and when extended may be used either as a bed or as a wheel chair. Irrespective of these features, however, the invention relating to the exercising and propulsion functions is applicable to a wheel chair, and the matters of collapsibility and convertibility are relatively immaterial, though desirable.

In the accompanying drawing, 6 indicates the seat and 1 the adjustable back rest of the carriage. At opposite sides of the seat and back rest, the carriage is provided with arm rests 8 each of which is pivoted as at 9 to a back rest support member ID. The support members ID are in turn pivoted upon the rear portion of the seat at I2, for swinging movement from an upright position to one substantially horizontal. Each one of a pair of leg rest frame members l3 may be pivoted as indicated, to the front end of the seat portion and to the front ends of the arm rests. These pivots are represented at M and I5. Padded or cushioned leg rests, and a pair of foot rests near the lower ends of the leg rests, are indicated at 16 and I! respectively.

At the rear of the seat portion is mounted a pair of front legs I8 which extend forwardly at a downward inclination, preferably to a location in advance of the front end of the seat portion. These front legs, which are arranged in may be attached to the pivots l2, or to any pivotal support carried by the seat portion. From the same pivots [2, or from any other pivotal support on the seat portion, a pair of rear legs [9 depend for the purpose of supporting caster wheels 20. The rear legs may be stabilized by means of braces 2| extending from the pivotal points 22 of the rear legs, to the pivotal points [4 of the seat. The brace 2| crosses the front leg l8 at a location beneath the seat and this condition prevails at both sides of the carriage.

In order that the back rest may be properly guided toward and from the horizontal position, it may be associated with members such as 23, 24 and [9 which, with the back rest support members l 0, form a pivoted parallelogram. The various pivots of the parallelogramic structure are indicated at 25, 26, 22 and [2. The lower end of each member 23 may carry a swivel caster wheel 21.

From the foregoing it will be understood that movementsof the backrest toward and from the horizontal position serve to unitarily move the leg rest supports or frame members l3 about their pivotal mountings I 4, through the agency of the arm rests 8. 'By .meansof this construction the chair may be converted instantly into a flat bed. When the back rest stands at an approximately vertical position, the leg rest frame members 13 will stand at a substantially similar angle, so that the extreme forward ends of the front legs l8-project forwardly'of the leg rests.

Where the front'legs crossthe braces 2|, a shaft 28 is' extended therethrough, as is most clearly illustrated by Fig. 4. This shaft may be in the form of :a headed bolt. This shaft or bolt will be referred to in greater detail hereafter.

At the forward ends of the front legs are mounted a pair of driving wheels 29 and 30, which may be furnished with pneumatic tires, or tires o'f anyother charactersuitable for use upon conveyances of the general type herein disclosed. Two methods of mounting the wheels are illustrated by 'Figs..2 and 3. The method of Fig. 2 will be described first.

The lower ends 3'l of the legs are provided with transverse openings which furnish a means of supporting the wheel axle. These openings may be provided with anti-friction bearings or the like, in accordance with common practice. A singlelongitudinal shaft 32 has its opposite ends extended through the front leg bearings, and by means of :heads or caps '33 applied to the axle ends, :the axle is prevented from shifting longitudinally. Apair of loosesle'evesor tubes 34 and 35 may beapplied over the axle, to substantially extend from its middle point outwardly to the heads or caps :33, and upon these freely rotatable sleeves may be keyed or otherwise fixedly mounted the wheels 29 and 30. Driving pulleys 35 may likewise be keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the sleeves, or to the wheels adjacent thereto, so :that a pair of pulleys 31 may be caused to drive the wheels '29 and 3D independently of each :other. In the preferred construction the pulleys and wheels are disposed outwardly of the front legs [8, although it is not impossible to dispose the wheels and pulleys within the space between the front legs.

The "characters 38 and'39 indicate foot propulsion drums of rather large diameter, each of which is securely fixed to a sleeve or tube 34 or 35. As shown in Fig. 2, drum 38 is keyed or otherwise fixed to the sleeve 34, whereas drum 39 is fixed to the independently rotatable sleeve 35. The inner ends of the separate sleeves may approximately meet at the line 40 between the inner peripheral edges 4| and 42 of the drums, however, it is by no means essential that the sleeves be of such length as to meet at the location 40.

The purpose of the drums 38 and 39 is to provide for exercising the feet and legs of a patient, and to enable him to propel the carriage from place to place. If the patient is capable of using both his feet, he may place them upon the curved surfaces of the drums and exert the necessary force thereon to rotate the driving wheels 29 and 30. It should be appreciated that the drums will rotate the driving wheels independently of one another, so that the patient by rotating one drum faster than the other, may steer the carriage by causing the swivel casters 2!] to rotate about their vertical pins 43. The carriage may be turned sharply by holding one drum stationary while the other is rotated by foot power in either the forward or the reverse directions.

In theevent that the patient possesses the use of but one foot and leg, he may still propel the carriage by placing his foot upon both drums, in spanning relationship to the space between the drums, so as to rotate them unitarily. In that event, the carriage may be turned about by applying foot power to one drum only. For the purpose just related, it -is important that the inner peripheral edges 4-! and 42' of the drums be spaced apart only a limited distance, so that the foot of the patient may contact both drums simultaneously.

In order to propel the carriage by foot power, the back rest 1 and the leg rest frame members I3 will be fixed in a substantial vertical position, so that the drums will be accessible for propelling the carriage.

A supplementary propelling means is included in the structure'compris'ing a pair of hand wheels 5 located at opposite sides of the chair. Each hand wheel is rotatably mounted upon a bolt or shaft such as 28, and-each has associated therewith a driving pulley 4'4 lover which the driving belt 37 is trained. The pulley '44 may be welded, bolted or otherwise fixed with relation to the hand wheel, so as to rotate therewith. Thehand wheel is of such large diameter as to be within reach of the hands of a patient occupying the seat of the carriage. The wheel may be of wood, metal, compositionor other suitable material, and will preferably -be provided with a number of spokes radiating inwardly from the rim thereof, so that the wheel may be readily grasped for use in propelling the carriage.

Attention is directed to the fact that the hand wheels '5 at the opposite sides of the chair are independently rotatable, and will accordingly serve to drive the wheels 29 and 30 selectively. Thus, by rotating the hand wheels at different speeds, or by holding one of them against rotation, thecarriage may besteered or turned about. Should the patient possess the use of but one arm and one leg, foot propulsion may be augmented or supplemented by hand propulsion. It will be appreciated therefore, that the carriage is adaptable for use by patients afiiicted in many different ways.

Means :are provided for locking the propulsion mechanism at each side'o'f the chain'for precluding accidental movement thereof. Said means may be furnished by applying a nut 35 to the threaded end "46 of 'bolt' 28, so that "the nut may be used to force the hand wheel and pulley 44 against a collar or washer 41 that abuts the brace members 2|. Nut 45 may be of any suitable design, that is, it may be a wing nut or lever, or by preference it may take the form of a hand wheel of reduced size as indicated upon the drawing. By tightening or loosening the nut, a selective braking of the driving mechanism at opposite sides of the chair may be effected. It is to 'be understood that brakes otherwise constructed may be substituted for the brake means herein disclosed, if desired. The brakes herein disclosed are within reach of the patient, so that he may manipulate them without assistance from an attendant.

The modified form of drum drive illustrated by Fig. 3 constitutes practically a reversal of construction in comparison with Fig. 2, in that the tube or sleeve I34 is of a single piece, whereas the axle for the drive wheels is made in two parts I32 and I35. The sleeve I34 provides bearing means for the inner ends of the aligned axle halves, and may be fixed to one of them, if desired, The driving wheels, drive pulleys, and the drums of Fig. 3, may be keyed or otherwise fixed directly to their respective shaft or axle parts I32 and I35, to provide the desired independency of the drive mechanism at opposite sides of the carriage or chair, as previously explained in connection with Fig. 2. In each instance, the character 49 indicates a thrust washer to keep the drums in slightl separated relationship.

The drums of Fig. 3 are shown constructed of solid material, such as wood, composition material or the like, whereas in the alternative construction of Fig. 2, the drums are hollow. Either type may be employed, as desired.

Although in Fig. 4 the spindle or shaft of the hand wheel is shown solid and stationary, the construction may be readily altered to employ a rotatable spindle or shaft to which the hand wheel and pulley may be fixed. These and other obvious modifications and changes in structural details may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Th character 50 indicates a guide and support assembly of the same general character as is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 525,991, filed March 11, 1944, and of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carriage of the class described, the com bination of a chassis having a pair of independently rotatable driving wheels, swivel caster means, and an elevated seat portion,-a pair of foot actuated drums each in driving relationship to a drive wheel for rotating the driv wheels selectively, a pair of hand actuated driving members located at opposite sides of the seat portion within reach of an occupant of the carriage, and power transmission means connecting each hand actuated driving member to one of the driving wheels, whereby the carriage may be ropelled by hand power, foot power, and a combination of hand and foot power,

2. In a carriage of the class described, the combination of a chassis having a pair of independently rotatable driving wheels, swivel caster means, and an elevated seat portion, a pair of foot actuated drums each fixed relative to a drive wheel for rotating the drive wheels selectively, a pair of hand actuated driving members located at opposite sides of the seat portion within reach of an occupant of the carriage, and power transmission means connecting each hand actuated driving member to one of the driving wheels, whereby the carriage may be propelled by hand power, foot power, and a combination of hand and foot power, said drums being spaced apart in axial alignment a limited distance such that both drums may be contacted and rotated by one foot of the carriage occupant.

3. In a carriage of the class described, the combination of a chassis having a pair of independently rotatable driving wheels, swivel caster means, and an elevated seat portion, a pair of foot actuated drums each in driving relationship to a drive wheel for rotating the drive wheels selectively, means for maintaining the drums in slightly spaced relationship upon a common axis for actuation simultaneously by one foot of an occupant, a pair of hand actuated driving members located at opposite sides of the seat portion within reach of an occupant of the carriage, and power transmission means connecting each hand actuated driving member to one of the driving wheels,

whereby the carriage may be propelled by hand power, foot power, and a combination of hand and foot power.

4. In a carriage of the class described, the combination of a chassis having a, pair of independently rotatable driving wheels, swivel caster means, and an elevated seat portion, a pair of foot actuated drums each fixed relative to a drive wheel for rotating the drive wheels selectively, means for maintaining the drums in slightly spaced relationship upon a common axis for actuation simultaneously by one foot of an occupant, a pair of hand actuated driving members located at opposite sides of the seat portion within reach of an occupant of the carriage, and power transmission means connecting each hand actuated driving member to one of the driving wheels, whereby the carriage may be propelled by hand power, foot power, and a combination of hand and foot power, and foot rest means movable to a position over the drums for supporting the lower limbs of the carriage occupant, while leaving the hand actuated driving members accessible.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination which comprises, a chassis including a seat portion, swivel caster means at the rear of the chassis, a pair of independently rotatable wheels at the forward end of the chassis, and a pair of drums each fixed relative to one of said independently rotatable wheels for rotation in a common direction therewith, and disposed horizontally in position to be reached and rotated independently by means of the feet of an occupant supported upon the seat portion of the device.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination which comprises, a chassis including a seat portion, swivel caster means at the rear of the chassis, a pair of independently rotatable wheels at the forward end of the chassis, and a pair of drums each fixed relative to one of said independently rotatable wheels, for rotation in a common direction therewith and disposed horizontally in position to be reached and rotated independently by means of the feet of an occupant, the drums being of a size approximating the diameter of said wheels, said drums serving as steps aiding a patient in mounting the seat portion, and a shaft supporting said drums in axial alignment for independent relative rotation by means of the feet of an occupant of the device.

7. In a device of the character described, the

combination which comprises, a chassis including,

a seat portion, swivel caster means atthe rear of the chassis, a pair of independently rotatable wheels at the forward end of the chassis, and a pair of drums each fixed relative to one of said independently rotatable wheels, and disposed horizontally in position to be reached. and rotated independently by meansof the feet of an occupant, each drum being fixedly connected to a wheel, and a shaft common to the wheels and drums, for supporting the wheels and drumsin axial alignment, with the drums sufficiently close to one another to enable the occupant to rotate bothwheels with the use ofv only one foot.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination which comprises, a chassis including a seat portion, swivel caster means at the rear of the chassis, a pair of independently rotatable wheels at the forward end of the chassis, and a pair of drums each fixed relative to one of said independently rotatable wheels, and disposed horizontally in position to be reached and rotated independently by means of the feet of an occupant, shaft means supporting the drums and wheels in axial alignment, whereby the feet of an occupant of the device may be applied to the drums for rotating the wheels independently, and hand operative means rotating with said drums.

9. In a convalescent carriage of the class described, the combination of a chassis having an elevated seat portion, a back rest above one end of the seat portion, and propulsion means disposed forwardly of the opposite end of the seat portion, said propulsion means comprising a pair of drums in position to be contacted by the feet of a patient, means supporting the drums upon the chassis for rotation independently of one another, independently rotatable wheelsand'swivel casters supporting the chassis for movement along a floor surface, and a driving connection between each drum and a wheel, causing each drum and its 8, associated wheel to rotate in a common direction enabling. the patient while seated to propel. the

carriage by foot power applied to the drums, said:

drums being spaced apart axially a, limited distance such that both drums may be contacted and. rotated by one foot only.

10. In. a convalescent carriage of the class described, the combination of a chassis having an elevated. seat portion, a back rest above one end of the seat portion, and foot actuatedpropulsion meansbeneath the level of the opposite end of the seat portion, comprising a pair. of drums in position to be contacted by the feet of a patient, means supporting the drums upon the chassis for rotation independently of one another, independently rotatable wheels and swivel casters supporting the chassis for movement along a floor surface, and a driving connection between each. drum and a wheel, causing each drum and its associated wheel torotate in a common direction, enabling the patient While seated to propel the carriage by foot power applied to the drums,

said drums being spaced apart axially a limited.

distance such that both drums may be contacted and rotated by one foot only, and. hand operated.

means rotating with said drums.

JOSEPH G. HAUSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 626,620 Lamar June 6, 1899 564,099 Pritchett July 14, 1896 269,076 Ludeke Dec. 12, 1882 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 208 Great Britain Jan. 18, 1879' 

